The combat elements associated with CCC were used to reinforce and assist in the recon mission. The first MACV-SOG recon teams were initially called “SPIKE TEAMS”, later “RECON TEAMS” each team (depending on what book you read!) consisting of 2 to 3 US SF personnel and 4 to 9 indigenous personnel. CCC fielded approximately 30 recon teams which were named after US States.
Recon teams that got into difficulty could call for assistance from US led reaction forces known as “HATCHET FORCES”, these were of platoon size and consisted of 5 US SF and about 30 indigenous personnel. “HATCHET FORCES” could also be used for ambushes as well as reinforcing recon teams when needed. Two or more “HATCHET FORCES” combined were termed as a “HAVOC” or “HORNET” force. Full SOG companies were called “SLAM” companies, Search, Location, Annihilation, Monitor (or Mission). Of these CCC had 4, A,B,C, and D, and used US paid indigenous personnel recruited and paid for by MACV-SOG.
COMMAND and CONTROL CENTRAL. CCC:
CCC was formed by MACV-SOG in late 1967, located in Kontum and operated in the Tri-border junction of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The primary mission of CCC (like the other Command and Control Centers) was strategic reconnaissance gathering.
Cross border (over the fence) operations were invariably code named in the interests of secrecy, with missions into Laos being known as “SHINING BRASS” and later after 1968 as “PRAIRIE FIRE”. Missions into Cambodia were also given code names and were initially known as “DANIEL BOONE” and later in the war as “SALEM HOUSE”.
The combat elements associated with CCC were used to reinforce and assist in the recon mission. The first MACV-SOG recon teams were initially called “SPIKE TEAMS”, each team (depending on what book you read!) consisting of 3 US SF personnel and 9 indigenous personnel. CCC fielded approximately 30 recon teams which were named after US States.
The recon teams focused their energies on specific areas of the trail in order to obtain current up to date information on construction, troop movements, supplies, etc. This information was often gained at great risk to the recon teams and transmitted to OP-34 ground studies branch at SOG HQ for inclusion into the daily SITREP reports. Relatively lightly armed the recon teams were not designed to slug it out in a pitched battle with the enemy. Instead they relied on moving without being detected, If in the event they were compromised (detected) then the ability to break contact quickly and evade the enemy was of paramount importance.
CCC was deactivated in March 1971, but in reality was altered in name only to TFAE2. A year later in March 1972 the whole organisation was supposedly terminated but covert missions involving SF troops continued, and actually increased. The US forces probably wearing black baseball caps and non related SF insignia on their uniforms. Many of the SF personnel lost after the official withdrawal date are among the POW/MIA discrepancy cases.
Umpteen different cloth patches and variations there of exist for CCC and it’s recon teams. The most popular design being the “Shell Burst with a Green Beret clad white skull with black eyes, red pupils, a healthy set of teeth, with blood dribbling from the corners of its mouth. The scroll below the skull bears the letters “CCC”. Lots of variations of this exist.
Most if not all of the recon teams had their own insignia’s made up in the form of cloth patches in order to enhance team unity and esprit de corps. As most of the indigenous personnel couldn’t speak English, graphics (ie Tigers, skulls, snakes, hatchets, etc) were more symbolic to them and easily understandable than words.
CCC recon teams were:- Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Fork, Hot cake, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.